We grow a little every time we do not take advantage of somebody's weakness.-- Bern Williams

Saturday, May 16, 1998

Make an offer

The way to get what you want, is to ask for it. That sounds very simplistic, and indeed it is. So why do so few people put it into practice? Because most people don’t understand that the way to ask most effectively is to offer.

Imagine what would happen if someone knocked on your door and said, “I would like to live in your house. Please move yourself and your family out by the end of the week so I can move my things in.” What would you do? You would probably slam the door in their face and call the police. But what if someone knocked on your door and said, “Here’s a check for five hundred thousand dollars. I would like to buy your house.” Would your reaction be different?

Ask in the right way, and you’ll get what you want. Begging, whining, complaining, and demanding are not ways of asking. To ask effectively, you must first know precisely what you want and why you want it. Then you must know and understand the value of what you have to offer in return.

Even if you have little in the way of financial or material wealth, you still have plenty to offer. You have yourself, your knowledge, discipline, skills, experience, passion and much more. You can have whatever you want from life if you’re willing to offer whatever you have.